Pavel Yakubovich rejected the proposal to became an editor-in-chief of the official newspaper, which the authorities plan to form on the base of five state-run newspaper.

The information was spread by Radio Svaboda.

The editor-in-chief of Sovetskaya Belorussia newspaper, Pavel Yakubovich, was expected to head the new newspaper. He is said to have rejected the proposal for the reasons of age and health.

Information minister Aleh Pralyaskouski and head of the main ideological department of Lukashenka's administration Usevalad Yancheuski are called as the most probable candidates.

It should be reminded that the authorities decided to merge the newspapers Respublika, Belorusskaya Niva, Narodnaya Gazeta and Znamya Yunosti with Sovetskaya Belorussia.

The resolution “Concerning restructuring of individual mass media outlets” was signed on January 10, 2013, by prime minister Mikhail Myasnikovich and head of Lukashenka's administration Andrei Kabyakou.